Wednesday, 16 May 2012

Mark Power – Sound of Two Songs

Another visit to the Impressions gallery in Bradford saw us view an exhibition behind the 68 photographic series ‘Sound of Two Songs’ by Mark Power. The following paragraph is a paraphrase of his project introduction.
The project began because a Magnum commissioned to spend a month in one of the nations which had newly joined the European Union. He found one visit only ‘scraped the surface’ of a country he was fascinated. He subsequently made twenty visits travelling the length and breadth of the country. The series is a poetic, autobiographical response to a country he grew to love. Alongside a series of portraits of people he met along the way, the Polish landscape is typically viewed from a respectable distance. It is not a factual account of contemporary Poland instead viewed as historical document in a fascinating period in Poland’s History.

I was taken aback by the gallery viewing. Such incredibly powerful photographs. Very ambiguous and mysterious; created with moody light and weather patterns. A vacancy and loneliness is presented within the series, often scenes void of inhabitants. Was a great experience to see the images, there is something so much more poignant and significant seeing them in person as the photographer has presented them, as opposed to on a computer screen or library book. I found it very inspiring and made me realise that this process Power underwent may not be too far off for me if I work hard.



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